The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-02-02
HOW THE SHAH LIVES.

HUN LIE SIiAll LlN I-N.
Personal AND OFFICIAL D&TAl.'
OF TIE LlEE OF PEFssIA'S K: Li1i;s.
His journal Of Travels, aad !:"" q i
Printed--!:y :. G. w. Ge.i;rm'i.'. E"c>atl1
United states Minister to Persia.
The voice CT the uluezzin. a long
melodious chant, IS heard floating ovel
the still air Of morning from the towers
of Teheran. 1t the same moment the
sun bursts over the eastern plains, and
FURNISHES the walls Of the capitol with {;
golden. glow. On the lofty turret OF ths
palace gate troop Of royal tra2ag'e.clS
halls the coming Cay, While IL the streets
below rings the piebi;,Il i-o.n WAith &II-
nounces to the people that TIE pllolc
baths are ready for the daily abint:o".
At the same time the camei pcI$ ere
heard Of caravans which, after travelling
all night, are now entering tie city.
An attendant in stocking lee! raises the
heavy drapery that closes tlle entrance
to the apartment where Nusr- ed Deen
Shah is sleeping, and with bowed hea
in low tone reminds his Majesty that 1t
is the hour Of prayer. \ ''n.oonfaced
maiden approaches, bearing a basin and
ever OF gold; she pours scented water
over the royal hands, and another fslr
attendant, scantilv clad, Ike her COM
panion, dries his hands with sort towel.
Both kneel ct this duty, for the king IS
yet on his couch, which IS q mattress
laid on the costly rigs that cover the
floor. Having accomplished the aoiu-
tions, which form one Of the essential
rites OF Mussulman prayer, she Shah
offers his devotions en- . superb prayer
rug of silk pointed toward Mecca. When
Mohammeaan is on a journey he car
ries compass with him, IL order to find
the direction of Mecca. The prayer IS
repeated in a low tore with many genu-
fec*ions, OF which the chief consist Of
repeatedly falling flat on The face, rising
to the knees, and then standing and
passing both hands reverentiaily over
tie face.
His morning prayer over, the Shah
passes to steam bath partia.lT subter-
ranean and containing several apart
ments. The entire establishment is
misty with steam, and a dim light per-
yades hall paved with marble. The
walls are encrusted with glazed ties ar
ranged in elegant floral designs. The
light sits through bulleyes N tie vaulted
ceiling, which is supported by graceful
pillars. In separate alccves are deep
tanks filled respectively with hot and
cold water. The attendants OF the king
are selected from tie nC,neroES lovely
women whose charms Gua!l1y them alike
as hand maidens and wives. I. IS need
less to say that under such circumstances
the morning beth Of the Saah CT Persia
possesses attractions Of character as
agreeable as they are unusual.
The daily attention given 10 these
baths very likely explains in part the
marvellous physical endurance OF Oriental
scvereigns, who retain their powers ior
domestic duties and affairs OF state to old
age In climates which Europeans find
enervating and exhaustiDg.
After bathing, the Sh-h partakes OF .
light meal Of tea or coffee VITA bread,
and perhaps fruits. Having thus ar
ranged uis personal wants, Nusr-ed-Deen
Shah passes into one Of his numerous
audience chambers and receives the min
listers of the royal council or cabinet. It
is composed Of the Set;r Aze.n OF Prime
Minister; the Naib SultaDeh, minister OF
war, the vizier Hara6ie OF minister OF
foreign affairs; the Anime Sultan, min
lister of finance; the Mobper-ed-Douleh,
minister of mines and telegraphs; the
Emin-ed-Douleh, minister Of posts and
administrator OF the religious funds; the
Sani-ed- -Douleh, minister Of printing,
and several other high dign,Earies, IN
cluding the minister OF arts and sciences,
who is also superintendent OF the arsen-
al, and the head OF the medical depart
ment, called by the singular name Of
Observation-Disclosures, or Physician Of
the Empire. Ihisfunctionary IS a Persian
who graduated at the medical college OF
Paris. He has for his colleagues several
other physicians, including Dr.. Tholo-
zan, a French practitioner who enjoys
the confidence OF the Shah ard reads to
him the leading foreign journals. During
a recent severe illness the Shah called to
his assistance DR.. Cochrane, a talented
American missionary physician residing
in Persia.
As it is yet early morning it IS evident
that these dguitaries are obliged to rise
even earlier than the Shah IL order to
be present at this morning audience.
One by one they raise the perdeh or
massive embroidered portiere, and enter
the presence OF the dread sovereign who
holds their lives and fortunes IN his fist,
and is styled the Asylum Of the Universe
and the King of Kings. The latter title
at least is capable OF reasonable explana-
fion. For in the periods OF ner former
greatness a monarch might be well con-
sidered King OF kings, to whom the liDgs
Of Armenia, Of Egypt, of Tourau, Of
Lydia, Of Georgia, OF Afghanistan, OF
India, and at one time OF ByZantium
paid tribute.
The ministers bow low or entering the
ssbiessed presence" they repeat tie cere-
mony half way across the apartment and
again on arriving within easy speaking
distance OF tie Shah, where they stand
in the order of precedence with folded
hands. 1t is the habit Of the Shah to so
with some minuteness into the details Of
administration. The present Shah does
+L;c - &c cold n>ora +Lao cc-,,a Of bic